Renault Enters Talks to Purchase
South Korea's Samsung Motors

By

David Woodruff, Robert L. Simison and

Scott Miller Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Jan. 5, 2000 12:01 a.m. ET

French car maker Renault SA confirmed it is in talks to buy South Korean conglomerate Samsung Group 's troubled automobile business, underlining the determination of U.S. and European car makers to expand into Asia.

Renault entered exclusive negotiations on Dec. 30 to buy all or part of Samsung Motors Inc.'s "operating assets," according to the French company. Company officials say they are primarily interested in Samsung's sophisticated new factory in Pusan, its technical center and its network of Korean...